Lynn Kennedy will return for a fourth season as the McNeese State women’s basketball coach the American Press has learned.

Two days after the Cowgirls finished what Kennedy called  “a long, tough season,” he met Friday with Athletic Director Heath Schroyer to discuss the future of the program.

“I met with Coach Kennedy this morning,” Schroyer said Friday. “We had a very productive meeting. I expressed my disappointment in this season and with where our women’s basketball program currently is.

“The product on the floor is simply not close to being good enough. Coach and I agree that significant changes need to be made.”

Kennedy called the conversation “positive” and said he was ready to get back to work.

“I am excited for next year,” said Kennedy. “We did not have the year we wanted, we all know that, but we believe we have set the foundation for a strong future. We also know how important next year is.”

The Cowgirls finished just 6-25 this season, 2-16 in the Southland Conference while placing ninth out of 10 teams and missed next week’s tournament being held in their own Legacy Center.

While Schroyer would not say what those changes would be specifically, the conversation was likely simply to the one he had with head football coach Gary Goff after his tough season last fall.

Goff made upgrades in his coaching staff and had a different approach to recruiting that landed the Cowboys a top class of newcomers according to publications that follow FCS football.

It is believed similar changes will be coming to the women’s basketball program. 

“We want to change the way we recruit and play,” said Kennedy. “We want to get some Louisiana kids to stay home. We want to get kids from Southeast Texas too.

“We have already started that process. We need to build relationships and we are getting out in the community. We have to show people who we are.”

Schroyer thinks the changes will make a difference.

“I believe in coach and I expect him to make the changes needed to get this program where it should be, at the top of the SLC and competing for conference championships,” said Schroyer.

“This is a premier basketball job at this level,” he continued. “We have high expectations and standards at McNeese and this program currently is not meeting them.” 

Kennedy, who signed a three-year deal originally with McNeese after he rebuilt the Portland State program and took it to the NCAA Tournament, started quickly with the Cowgirls. His first team went 13-15 and 8-6 in the Southland, earning Kennedy an extension for a fourth season. 

That after taking over a program that had been only 18-62, 13-39, over the three previous seasons.

In Kennedy’s first three seasons at McNeese, his teams have posted a 31-59 record overall and 18-32 in the SLC. 

“It is important that we get back to who we started here,” said Kennedy. “We have been in the league now for some time and see what it takes to win. I’m not going to stop fighting to get back there.”

The young Cowgirls, who don’t have a senior on the roster, did look better in the last part of the season, winning two of their final three games. They lost their season finale to New Orleans 67-64 Wednesday night. 

Earlier in the season McNeese had lost by 15 points to the Privateers at home. 

Over the last two seasons, the Cowgirls have suffered their share of injuries which has hurt their chances to compete. The biggest injury this year was to Cristin Gil, the projected starting point guard who had leg issues for the second straight season.

Gil was limited to just 12 games and four starts in her junior year.

That forced two true freshmen to carry most of the ball handling for McNeese. Azjah Reeves and Boston Berry responded with solid seasons that included some freshmen struggles. 

Reeves was the only Cowgirl to start all 31 games and led the team averaging almost 35 minutes a game. She scored at an 8.9 clip.

Berry was second in starts with 29 while also playing in all 31 games. She averaged 31 minutes and 7.5 points. 

The duo combined to dish out 151 assists on the season.

“We were a very young team but I thought we continued to play hard and got better and better as the season went along,” said Kennedy. “I look forward to continue working here to get us back to competing for championships.”

Kennedy said he is working on several players from the area to come to McNeese and join the players he has back.

“I think we can turn this around pretty quick,” Kennedy said.